Method of and apparatus for transmitting universal plug and play audio/video stream

ABSTRACT

A method of and an apparatus for transmitting a universal plug and play audio/video (UPnP-AV) stream is disclosed, which transmits a media stream from a media server to an media renderer, using an integrated protocol which combines an universal plug and play (UPnP) audio/video (AV) protocol and a residential Ethernet (ResE) subscription protocol. According to the method, an integrated protocol combining an UPnP-AV protocol and an Ethernet protocol can be used. Additionally, a secured quality of service (QoS) can be provided for the UPnP-AV stream.

This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/699,388, filed on Jul. 15, 2005, in the United States Patent andTrademark Office, and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) ofKorean Patent Application Nos. 2006-33192 filed on Apr. 12, 2006 and2006-64584 filed on Jul. 10, 2006 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate totransmitting a universal plug and play audio/video stream, and moreparticularly, to transmitting a universal plug and play audio/video(UPnP-AV) stream, which transmits a media stream using an integratedprotocol of an UPnP-AV protocol for a home network service and aresidential Ethernet subscription protocol.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a universal plug and play (UPNP) is a networkingarchitecture, which enables network home devices, such as PCs, PDAs,printers, wideband routers, home appliances, and others, to perform plugand play functions in home networks.

UPNP is a technology of extending a simple ability of plug and play ofdevices in an operating system (OS) to the entire network. Also, UPNP-AVhas been developed in a general UPNP architecture, especially for an AVcontent transmission among network devices. In addition to UPNP,experience of zero-configuration multimedia becomes possible at home.

Currently, a residential Ethernet is a new standardization scheme in theIEEE 802 Working Group. The residential Ethernet provides atime-sensitive delivery with respect to a reliable point-to-pointuniversal intermediate-layer cable media among endpoints. The AVapplications can set isochronous stream connections on the residentialEthernet.

Currently, UPnP-AV support four types of transmission protocols, such as“http-get”, “rtsp-rtp-udp”, “internal”, and “ice 61883”, clearlydefined. However, in the UPnP-AV, an integrated transmission protocol,in addition to the residential Ethernet, has not yet been considered.

In addition, the residential Ethernet (ResE) can provide secured qualityof service (QoS) 2-layer connections for the AV stream. However, in theactual AV applications, it has not been considered how to use such aconnection service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in order to solve the abovedrawbacks and other problems associated with the conventionalarrangement. An aspect of the present invention is to provide a methodof, and an apparatus for transmitting a universal plug and playaudio/video (UPnP-AV) stream, which transmits a media stream using atransmission protocol integrating an UPNP-AV protocol used for a homenetwork service and a residential Ethernet (ResE) subscription protocol.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod of transmitting a universal plug and play (UPNP) audio/video(A/V) stream, comprising a media renderer, preparing for a connectionwith a media server to discover a service according to an Ethernetprotocol, the media renderer, setting a multicast connection with themedia server, and the media server, multicasting the media stream to themedia renderer according to the Ethernet protocol.

After the multicasting of the media stream, the media rendererdisconnecting from the media server when the transmission of the mediastream may be completed.

The Ethernet protocol may include a residential Ethernet (ResE)subscription protocol.

In the preparing for the connection with the media server, a controlpoint, which transmits a control command about the transmission of themedia stream, requests a connection management/protocol information bytransmitting a connection manager message to the media renderer,receives a protocol/format list from the media renderer and selects oneprotocol/format from the received list.

In the preparing for the connection with the media server, the controlpoint requests the preparation connection by transmitting aPrepareForConnection message to the media server, and the media servertransmits a connection ID containing a plug ID and a stream forwardingID to the control point.

In the preparing for the connection with the media server, the controlpoint requests preparation of connection by transmitting thePrepareForConnection message containing the connection ID and the mediaforwarding ID to the media renderer, and the media renderer constructsthe stream forwarding ID using the ID information of thePrepareForConnection message, and registers the stream forwarding ID tothe media server by using a Generic Attribute Register Protocol (GARP)of the Ethernet protocol.

In the preparing for the connection with the media server, the mediaserver reserves a resource request according to a reservation protocolof the Ethernet protocol, and transmits a reservation signaling to themedia renderer.

In the preparing for the connection with the media server, the mediarenderer constructs the stream forwarding ID when the plug ID receivedfrom the media server matches with the plug ID of the media renderer.

The plug ID may be one of the unique plug ID and a residential EthernetLAN-wide unique plug ID.

In the multicasting of the media stream, the media stream is transmittedthrough an Ethernet protocol adaptation layer (PAL).

In the setting of a multicast connection with the media server, themulticast connection is set by the session set between the media serverand the media renderer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there may beprovided an apparatus for transmitting a universal plug-and-play (UPNP)audio/video (A/V) stream, which includes a control point which transmitsa PrepareForConnection message for a media stream transmission, andtransmits a control command so that the media stream is transmitted, amedia server which receives the PrepareForConnection message, reserves aresource request, and multicasts the media stream according to thecontrol command, and a media renderer which, in response to thePrepareForConnection message, prepares for a connection with the mediaserver to discover a service according to an Ethernet protocol,constructs a stream forwarding identifier (ID) using ID information ofthe PrepareForConnection message, and sets a connection using the streamforwarding ID to receive the media stream.

The media renderer disconnects from the media server when thetransmission of the media stream is completed.

The Ethernet protocol may include a residential Ethernet (ResE)subscription protocol.

The control point requests a connection management/protocol informationby transmitting a connection manager message to the media renderer,receives a protocol/format list from the media renderer, and selects oneprotocol/format from the received list.

The control point requests the preparation connection by transmitting aPrepareForConnection message to the media server, and receives aconnection ID containing a plug ID and a stream forwarding ID from themedia server.

The control point requests preparation of connection by transmitting thePrepareForConnection message containing the connection ID and the mediaforwarding ID to the media renderer, and the media renderer receives thestream forwarding ID constructed by using the ID information of thePrepareForConnection message, and registers the stream forwarding ID tothe media server by using a Generic Attribute Register Protocol (GARP)of the Ethernet protocol.

The media renderer constructs the stream forwarding ID when the plug IDreceived from the media server matches with the plug ID of the mediarenderer.

The plug ID may be one of the unique plug ID and a residential EthernetLAN-wide unique plug ID.

The media stream is transmitted through an Ethernet protocol adaptationlayer (PAL).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above aspects and features of the present invention will be moreapparent by describing certain embodiments of the present invention withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating the construction of anapparatus for transmitting a UPnP-AV stream according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a method for transmitting UPnP-AVstream according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described ingreater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the wholedescription of the present invention, the same drawing referencenumerals are used for the same elements across various figures. Theconventional elements or their detailed description will be omitted ifit is determined that they impede the subject matter of the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically illustrating the construction of anapparatus for transmitting a UPNP-AV stream according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention

The apparatus for transmitting UPnP-AV stream according to one aspect ofthe present invention includes a control point 110, a media server 120,a media renderer 130, a residential Ethernet LAN (hereinafter referredto as a “ResE LAN”) 140, a talker-side bridge device 142, and alistener-side bridge device 144.

The control point 110 commands that the media server 120 provides aisochronous stream to the media renderer 130. For example, the controlpoint 110 may be a remote controller for sending a control command.

The media server 120 is a talker that provides the media stream, andincludes a content directory 122, a connection manager 124, and an A/Vtransmitter 126.

The media server 120 reserves the transmission of the media streamaccording to the control command from the control point 110 regardingthe request for the media stream, and transmits the media stream to themedia renderer 130 on the basis of reservation information. For example,the media server 120 may be a DVD player.

In the media server 120, the content directory stores diverse kinds ofmedia streams.

The connection manager 124 provides connection information for setting amedia session in order to provide the media stream.

The A/V transmitter 126 transmits the media stream, which has beenreserved for transmission, to the talker-side bridge device 142.

The media renderer 130 is a listener that receives, and displays themedia stream, and includes a rendering controller 132, a connectionmanager 134, and an A/V transmitter 136.

The rendering controller 132 controls an in-band A/V stream to bereceived according to the ResE subscription protocol.

The connection manager 134 provides the listener-side bridge device 144with connection information required for setting a media session inorder to receive the media stream.

The A/V transmitter 136 receives A/V content from the listener-sidebridge device 144.

The ResE LAN 140 is a communication network for a short-distancecommunication such as a home network.

On the other hand, the talker-side bridge device 142 includes a ResEsubscription protocol, a ResE PAL, and a ResE MAC/PHY. The talker-sidebridge device 142 sets a connection session with the listener-sidebridge device 144 via the ResE LAN 140, based on the connectioninformation received from the media server 120 through the ResE MAC/PHY.Then, it transmits the A/V content received from the media server 120through the connection session to the listener-side bridge device 144.

Also, the talker-side bridge device 142 sets a connection session withthe listener-side bridge device 144 according to the ResE subscriptionprotocol, and transmits the A/V content according to the ResEsubscription protocol.

On the other hand, the listener-side bridge device 144 includes a ResEPAL, a ResE subscription protocol, and a ResE MAC/PHY. The listener-sidebridge device 144 receives the A/V content through a physical layer ofthe ResE MAC/PHY, and receives the A/V content through the ResE PAL.Also, it receives the A/V content from the talker-side bridge device 142according to the ResE subscription protocol.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining a method for transmitting a UPnP-AVstream according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, a new protocol type for the UPnP-AV stream isdefined. According to the new transmission protocol, the media stream istransmitted on the Residential Ethernet (ResE) through the protocoladaptation layer (PAL). In network, all ResE devices are assumed to be apart of the same LAN, and then this identifier is not needed. It will bedefined in ResE-PAL to identify different content formats andcorresponding ResE encapsulation formats. Additional informationincludes resource information, a talker-side MAC address, and othervender particulars information. The resource information is used by themedia server 120 to decide what kinds of ResE resources should bereserved when it processes the subscription protocol.

First of all, the control pint 110 executes service discovery betweenthe media server 120 and the media renderer 130. That is, the mediarenderer 130 confirms the connection for transmitting media streambetween the media server 120 and the media renderer 130. If a usermanipulates the control point 110 to transmit the A/V content, thecontrol point 110 transmits an operation control command to the mediaserver 120, and the media server 120 transmits content objects to thecontrol point 110 (S202). The user selects a contents object to display,through the control point 110.

Also, the control point 110 requests connection management/protocolinformation to the media renderer 130 by transmitting a connectionmanager message to the media renderer 130. For this, the media renderer130 provides a protocol/format list to the control point 110 (S204).

The control point 110 selects a protocol and format from theprotocol/format list, which matches with the protocol and format of thecontents object to display (S206).

Then, the control point 110 requests that the media server 120 preparefor the connection by transmitting a “PrepareForConnection” message tothe media server 120. When the “PrepareForConnection” message istransmitted to the media server 120 from the control point 110, theresource information is filled in an addition information field of aprotocol information parameter by the control point 110, and istransferred to the media server 120.

The media server 120 transmits a connection ID including a plug ID, andan A/V forwarding ID to the control point 110 (S208).

Accordingly, the control point 110 adds the connection ID including theplug ID, and the AV forwarding ID, which are received from the mediaserver 120, to the “PrepareForConnection” message, and requests themedia renderer 130 for the preparation of connection by transmitting the“PrepareForConnection” message thereto (S210).

The media renderer 130 includes the MAC address of the media server, andalso includes a unique plug ID conveyed by a peer connection IDparameter.

The MAC address of the media server and the unique plug ID are used bythe media renderer 130 according to the ResE subscription protocol. Inthis case, the plug ID may be one of the unique plug ID and a ResELAN-wide unique plug ID.

Accordingly, the media renderer 130, using the “PrepareForConnection”message including the unique plug ID, confirms if the plug ID of themedia server 120 matches its own plug ID (S212).

When the plug ID matches, the media renderer 130 constructs a streamforwarding identifier (ID) using information of the connection (i.e.,“PrepareForConnection”) message. The media renderer 130 requestsresources to the media server 120 by registering the stream forwardingID in the media server 120, using a Generic Attribute RegistrationProtocol (GARP) of the ResE subscription protocol (S214).

The media server 120 reserves the resource request according to thereservation protocol of the ResE subscription protocol, and transmits areservation signaling to the media renderer 130 (S218).

The media renderer 130 receives the reservation signaling, recognizesthe result of subscription to the ResE protocol via the connectionmanager 134, and transmits the result to the control point 110 (S220).

After that, a session is set through the ResE PAL of the talker-sidebridge device 142 and the listener-side bridge device 144 between themedia server 120 and the media renderer 130, and a connection is made(S222).

The media server 120 transmits the A/V stream to the listener-sidebridge device 144 through the ResE PAL of the talker-side bridge device142 according to the ResE subscription protocol (S224). The talker-sidebridge device 142 transmits the A/V stream to the renderer 130 via thelistener-side bridge device 144, through the ResE-PAL.

When the display of the media contents is finished, the user performskey input through the control point 110 so that the transmission of theA/V contents is finished (S226). Accordingly, the control point 110transmits a transmission end message to the media renderer 130, andreceives a resultant message from the media renderer 130 (S222).

As a result, the media renderer 130 disconnects from the media server120 (S228).

As described above, according to the present invention, an integratedtransmission protocol, which combines the residential Ethernet protocoland the UpnP protocol. Also, a secured quality of service (QoS) can beprovided for the UPnP-AV stream.

The foregoing embodiment and advantages are merely exemplary and are notto be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachingcan be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, thedescription of the embodiments of the present invention is intended tobe illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and manyalternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

1. A method of transmitting a universal plug and play (UPnP) audio/video(A/V) stream, comprising: a media renderer, preparing for a connectionwith a media server to discover a service according to an Ethernetprotocol; the media renderer, setting a multicast connection with themedia server; and the media server, multicasting the media stream to themedia renderer according to the Ethernet protocol, wherein, in thepreparing for the connection, the media renderer constructs a streamforwarding identifier (ID) using a PrepareForConnection message receivedfrom a control point, and registers the stream forwarding ID to themedia server using a Generic Attribute Register Protocol (GARP) of theEthernet protocol.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, afterthe multicasting of the media stream, the media renderer disconnectingfrom the media server when the transmission of the media stream iscompleted.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the Ethernet protocolcomprises a residential Ethernet (ResE) subscription protocol.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, wherein in the preparing for the connection with themedia server, a control point, which transmits a control command aboutthe transmission of the media stream, requests a connectionmanagement/protocol information by transmitting a connection managermessage to the media renderer, receives a protocol/format list from themedia renderer and selects one protocol/format from the received list.5. The method of claim 4, wherein in the preparing for the connectionwith the media server, the control point requests the preparationconnection by transmitting a PrepareForConnection message to the mediaserver, and the media server transmits a connection ID containing a plugID and a stream forwarding ID to the control point.
 6. A method oftransmitting a universal plug and play (UPnP) audio/video (A/V) stream,comprising: a media renderer, preparing for a connection with a mediaserver to discover a service according to an Ethernet protocol; themedia renderer, setting a multicast connection with the media server;wherein in the preparing for the connection with the media server, acontrol point, which transmits a control command about the transmissionof the media stream, requests a connection management/protocolinformation by transmitting a connection manager message to the mediarenderer, receives a protocol/format list from the media renderer andselects one protocol/format from the received list; wherein in thepreparing for the connection with the media server, the control pointrequests the preparation connection by transmitting aPrepareForConnection message to the media server, and the media servertransmits a connection ID containing a plug ID and a stream forwardingID to the control point; the media server, multicasting the media streamto the media renderer according to the Ethernet protocol; and wherein inthe preparing for the connection with the media server, the controlpoint requests preparation of connection by transmitting thePrepareForConnection message containing the connection ID and the mediaforwarding ID to the media renderer, and the media renderer constructsthe stream forwarding ID using the ID information of thePrepareForConnection message, and registers the stream forwarding ID tothe media server by using a Generic Attribute Register Protocol (GARP)of the Ethernet protocol.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein in thepreparing for the connection with the media server, the media serverreserves a resource request according to a reservation protocol of theEthernet protocol, and transmits a reservation signaling to the mediarenderer.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein in the preparing for theconnection with the media server, the media renderer constructs thestream forwarding ID when the plug ID received from the media servermatches with the plug ID of the media renderer.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein the plug ID is one of the unique plug ID and a residentialEthernet LAN-wide unique plug ID.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein inthe multicasting of the media stream, the media stream is transmittedthrough an Ethernet protocol adaptation layer (PAL).
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein in the setting of a multicast connection with the mediaserver, the multicast connection is set by the session set between themedia server and the media renderer.
 12. An apparatus for transmitting auniversal plug and play (UPNP) audio/video (A/V) stream, comprising: acontrol point which transmits a PrepareForConnection message for a mediastream transmission, and transmits a control command so that the mediastream is transmitted; a media server which receives thePrepareForConnection message, reserves a resource request, andmulticasts the media stream according to the control command; and amedia renderer which, in response to the PrepareForConnection message,prepares for a connection with the media server to discover a serviceaccording to an Ethernet protocol, constructs a stream forwardingidentifier (ID) using ID information of the PrepareForConnectionmessage, and sets a connection using the stream forwarding ID to receivethe media stream, wherein the media renderer registers the streamforwarding identifier (ID) to the media server using a Generic AttributeRegister Protocol (GARP) of the Ethernet protocol.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the media renderer disconnects from the media serverwhen the transmission of the media stream is completed.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the Ethernet protocol comprises aresidential Ethernet (ResE) subscription protocol.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the control point requests a connectionmanagement/protocol information by transmitting a connection managermessage to the media renderer, receives a protocol/format list from themedia renderer, and selects one protocol/format from the received list.16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control point requests thepreparation connection by transmitting a PrepareForConnection message tothe media server, and receives a connection ID containing a plug ID anda stream forwarding ID from the media server.
 17. The apparatus of claim12, wherein the control point requests preparation of connection bytransmitting the PrepareForConnection message containing the connectionID and the media forwarding ID to the media renderer, and the mediarenderer receives the stream forwarding ID constructed by using the IDinformation of the PrepareForConnection message, and registers thestream forwarding ID to the media server by using the Generic AttributeRegister Protocol (GARP) of the Ethernet protocol.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, wherein the media renderer constructs the stream forwarding IDwhen the plug ID received from the media server matches with the plug IDof the media renderer.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the plugID is one of the unique plug ID and a residential Ethernet LAN-wideunique plug ID.
 20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the media streamis transmitted through an Ethernet protocol adaptation layer (PAL).